Simon Morris
Review - Military Wives
Military wives is about an army social club choir, run by two bickering choir directors. Starring Kristen Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan. Video, Audio
At The Movies for 11 March 2020
Simon Morris looks at three films - including two New Zealand films - aimed at very different audiences. Audio
Review - The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a unique-looking drama that plays like an old folk-tale of two men driven mad in a lighthouse off the coast of New England. Stars the Oscar-nominated Willem Dafoe and Robert… Video, Audio
Movie review: Working Woman
Working Woman is an Israeli film that offers unexpected angles to the old story of sexual harassment in the workplace. Directed by Michal Aviad. Video, Audio
Review - The Professor and the Madman
The Professor and the Madman tells the story of the unlikely pair who helped create the Oxford English Dictionary. Starring Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. Video, Audio
At The Movies for 26 February 2020
Simon Morris looks at three films - one true, one based on an important issue, and one from the Twilight Zone. Audio
Review - Emma
Emma is a new production of the Jane Austen favourite, written by award-winning New Zealand novelist Eleanor Catton. Featuring Bill Nighy and Miranda Hart. Audio
Review - Richard Jewell
Richard Jewell is the true story of a man falsely accused of terrorism. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Sam Rockwell, Jon Hamm and Kathy Bates. Audio
At The Movies for 19 February 2019
Simon Morris looks at two films with a Kiwi angle, and the latest from 89-year-old director Clint Eastwood. Audio
Movie review: 'La Belle Epoque' is clever and sweet
This feel-good French romantic comedy is almost custom-designed for a jaded couples' date night, says Simon Morris. It stars Daniel Auteuil and Fanny Ardant. Video, Audio
Movie review - Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey: The Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn is a mostly all-women comic-book movie with Margot Robbie both producing and starring in the tale of the Joker's ex, writes Simon Morris… Audio
Movie review: 'For Sama' is simply amazing
The Oscar-nominated war documentary For Sama is co-directed by Syrian film-maker Waad al-Kateab and dedicated to her baby daughter. It's deserving of every accolade, says Simon Morris. Video, Audio
Movie review - Oscars 2020
The 2020 Oscars were all about diversity, with awards for a South Korean film, a Maori script-writer and a female Icelandic composer. Audio
At The Movies for 12 February 2020
Simon Morris looks at the winners and losers of the Academy Awards 2020, then reviews three movies, all with a decidedly female slant. Audio
Tim O'Brien
Double Grammy winning musician Tim O'Brien speaks to the Matinee Idle team ahead of his visit to New Zealand. He is set to headline the 47th Auckland Folk Festival at the Kumeu Showgrounds 24-27… Audio
At the Movies for 18 December 2019
Simon Morris looks back on 2019. It was a year of franchise endings - The Avengers, Star Wars, Toy Story and several others - and diversity. Certainly there were more movies starring women and… Audio
Review - The Good Liar
The good liar teams up Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen for the first time in a movie in a mystery thriller that starts with an on-line date. Audio
Review - The Dead Don't Die
Zombie spoof The dead don't die features an eccentrically diverse cast, including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton and Iggy Pop. Directed by Jim Jarmusach (Only lovers left alive) Audio
Review - After the Wedding
After the wedding is a remake of an acclaimed Danish film, starring Michelle Williams (My week with Marilyn), Julianne Moore (Gloria Bell) and Billy Crudup (Almost famous). Audio
At The Movies for 11 December 2019
Simon Morris suggests that most of us go to a movie because of the cast, and reviews three movies all, more or less, dependent on who's in them. Audio